拯救從何處開始?

摘要

當聖靈藉著信心被接受了之後,我們就已經被上帝稱為義人(得救)。這並非在於我們自己的善工,而唯獨在於上帝的恩賜。



申命記18:17-19
耶和華就對我(摩西)說:『我必在他們弟兄中間給他們興起一位先知,像你。我要將當說的話傳給他;他要將我一切所吩咐的都傳給他們。誰不聽他奉我名所說的話,我必討誰的罪。』

上帝向古以色列人承諾:在摩西之後,他將差遣另外一位先知(基督)來。

聽道是拯救的開始
首要的事情是我們必須聆聽這位先知的話語。 我們的拯救並非始於我們的善工,而是始於聆聽生命之道。所以,律法先使人謙卑,揭示出罪行,教導我們靠著自己的能力不能作任何事。 羅馬書4:15說:「因為律法是惹動忿怒的」。這話實在真實,人不僅行不出律法,連聽都不願聽,因為律法要殺死他們。因此,他們只得尋求其他的道,就是在我們有善工以前,就已經使我們得以存活的道,正如你在此看到的。藉著聽這道,聖靈被賜下。又藉著信心,聖靈潔淨心靈。羅馬書10:17說:「信心從聽道來」。信心並沒有給所有聽道的人,卻給了上帝旨意所定之人,因為聖靈隨著自己的心意吹(約3:8約翰福音3:8 風隨著意思吹,你聽見風的響聲,卻不曉得從哪裏來,往哪裏去;凡從聖靈生的,也是如此。[一],並非按照我們的心意。

信道的結果是稱義
當聖靈藉著信心被接受了之後,我們就已經被上帝稱為義人(得救)。這並非在於我們自己的善工,而唯獨在於上帝的恩賜。我們取得了與上帝和平與喜樂的良心(羅5:1羅馬書5:1 我們既因信稱義,就藉著我們的主耶穌基督得與上帝相和。[二],並有信心地歡呼:「阿爸父」(羅8:15羅馬書8:15 你們所受的,不是奴僕的心,仍舊害怕;所受的,乃是兒子的心,因此我們呼叫:「阿爸!父!」 [三]
我們不再恐懼,不像奴僕一般逃離上帝的憤怒。我們卻如同孩子一般,靠著上帝的恩典,去到上帝那裡。在那裡我們必站立得穩,且誇耀(羅5:2-3羅馬書5:2-3 我們又藉著他,因信得進入現在所站的這恩典中,並且歡歡喜喜盼望上帝的榮耀。不但如此,就是在患難中也是歡歡喜喜的;因為知道患難生忍耐。[四]。——馬丁路德(《申命記》講義,1525年)(AE 9:184)

註解一:回到原文
約翰福音3:8 風隨著意思吹,你聽見風的響聲,卻不曉得從哪裏來,往哪裏去;凡從聖靈生的,也是如此。
註解二:回到原文
羅馬書5:1 我們既因信稱義,就藉著我們的主耶穌基督得與上帝相和。
註解三:回到原文
羅馬書8:15 你們所受的,不是奴僕的心,仍舊害怕;所受的,乃是兒子的心,因此我們呼叫:「阿爸!父!」
註解四:回到原文
羅馬書5:2-3 我們又藉著他,因信得進入現在所站的這恩典中,並且歡歡喜喜盼望上帝的榮耀。不但如此,就是在患難中也是歡歡喜喜的;因為知道患難生忍耐。


Where The Salvation Begins
Deuteronomy 18:17–19
And the LORD said to me, ‘I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. And I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him. 19 And whoever will not listen to my words that he shall speak in my name, I myself will require it of him.

First and foremost, the Prophet of whom Moses speaks here must be heard; that is, our salvation begins, not with any work of ours but with the hearing of the Word of life. Hence also the Law precedes, to humble, to reveal sin, and to teach that we can do nothing by our own strength. Rom. 4:15: “The Law brings wrath,” and brings it so completely that the people not only do not do the Law but will not even hear it, for it kills them. For this reason they seek another Word, one which can make us alive before we do any works, as you have seen here. Through the hearing of the Word the Holy Spirit is given; by faith He purifies the heart. Rom. 10:17: “Faith comes from what is heard,” not indeed to all who hear but to whom God wills. For the Spirit blows where He wills (John 3:8), not where we will. But when the Holy Spirit is received by faith, then we are justified by Him without any work of our own, only by the gift of God, and we experience peace and a good conscience toward God (Rom. 5:1), and joyfully and confidently we cry: “Abba, Father” (Rom. 8:15). Now there is no more fear or slavish flight from the face of the wrath of God; there is childlike access to God through grace, in which we stand and boast (Rom. 5:2–3).(AE 9:184)(Lectures on Deuteronomy, 1525)


Photo is from hearingfromjesus.org.